The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-12-29
gait, ..he's the crawlin'est crittur

\
ever seed"
Then he began to think that per-
haps he hadn't stuck Larkins so badly
in his last trade. The mule he had
parted with was the best animal they
| had on the farm, and good mule is
better than an Indifferent horse, though
vain man may not like the steed he
bestrides to have so much ears and so
little tail as the former is generally
blessed with. However. he rode on
to the village tavern, where he found
some of his cronies idling about.
"Hello, SAM" said one of them,
"got yer another glass-eyed hoss?"
'He amt got but one eye." replied
Sam. ''but that's a good one."
"Well, he's a right nice looking
crittur, anyhow" SAID another, "an'
he's es slick an shiny as greasy Mig
ger. Git down, Sam, an les have
some fun"
Sam dismounted and tied his horse
to the rack, and the young men went
into the tavern, where the sounds of
much merrimens were soon heard.
There had been signs of coming rain
since the early morning, and while the
roisterers were making it lively within
doors, Pluvius commenced to pour
down his showers without, aud the
horse, which Sam had forgotten all
about, stood with his head bowed pa
tiently. taking what the god sent until
it ceased, when he shook himself and
looked wistfully with his one eye to-
ward the tavern door.
BY and by one of the noisy crowd
looked out.
Hello" he said, 'it's been rainin'
an ralnin' hard"
The next instant he called out to
Sam:
"Come here, SAM" he shouted;
whats ther matter with yer hossP"
Sam came to the door.
.'That amt my hoss," he said. look
ing at the animal tied to the rack.
The black horse had changed his color
and was now dirty red. ''But whar
is my hoss? Durn it! some feller's
been here an stole my hoss an left
that crittur" then, Pm sorry to
record it, that good boy, Sam Dover
said some very bad words, and going
in front of the horse, as the represen-
tative of the supposed thief, shook his
fist in his face. But he had hardly
done so when he started back.
By this time all the company within
the tavern had assembled at the door,
whats ther matter, Sam?" asked
one.
whats come er yer black hosp"
said another
But Sam said not word. He stood
looking in the horses face, and his
same.
"Well, III Tll-be-durned," said one
of them, "ole Zeke come back, sure es
I'm a livin'."
'Ole Zekep" said another.
''Yes, thet's him."
"Terber sho' it is" said Sam, "an'
I'd like ter fin ther feller what brought
i'm here an tuck my black hoss."
'W at w'uld yer do, Sam?"
"Id give i'm thir durnedes lickin'
yer ever seed man git"
"Well, l dunno if yer able, but yer
kin jis' pitch in an try eff yer can lick
yerse'f. It'll be bout a even fight, l
reckin, an won't bet on nary one Nv
yer"
Sam looked at the speaker in be-
Pete?" he asked.
'Jes' this here: thet thar's the hoss
yer tied ther yerself; thar rains jes'
washed ther paint off'n him-that's all.
Look here" and Pete rubbed his
hand in the horses name.
Sam was satisfied with the result of
this experiment, and, refusing to an
swer any questions, mounted Zeke
and rode toward home, making
mental calculation as to the final out
come-or rather, outgo-of his specu-
lations in horsef1esh.
He tried to persuade himself that he
had done very well to get steady old
Zeke back, Notwithstanding the in
variable result of his calculations,
which resolved themselves into about
this form:
Old Zeket$25=Willam Hinry. Will
liam Hinry-breath of life=O $25 and
two glass eyes carried over. One
mulet$14=Old Zeke, which always
left Sam-one mulet$14 any way he
could fix it, with an actual gain of two
glass eyes that he had no earthly use
for unless he should bestow one of
of them on Zeke, who would probably,
if consulted, beg to be excused.-Rob-
ert BoggS IN Neac Orleans TtmeS-Dena-